Head of Group Financial Reporting and Planning

Hours:35 per week, 15 month fixed term contract

Closing Date:Wed, 9 Apr 2025

We’ve got a great opportunity for an experienced leader in Financial Reporting to join Skipton Building Society for a 15 month fixed term contract as our Head of Group Financial Reporting and Planning.

The key purpose of the role is to proactively drive efficiencies in Group financial reporting including controls and planning. You’ll deliver high-quality, insightful compliant and timely statutory and management reporting to stakeholders and providing strategic challenge and partnership to the subsidiaries of Skipton Group.

This role supports the business areas under the Group Finance Director, and our subsidiaries, with their financial reporting, working closely with the Society Financial Planning, Stress Testing and Reporting team to provide analytical support and insight in the preparation of management information to support Group business-planning and decision-making.

Over the 15 month contract the key objective of the role will be to transform our financial reporting including process re-engineering and automating month end reporting.

Who are we?

Not just another building society. Not just another job.

We're the fourth biggest building society in the UK and what makes us a bit different is that we're a mutual organisation. We don't have shareholders; we're owned by our members.

Our colleagues say Skipton's a great place to work, and you could be one of them, bringing with you new ideas on how we can keep customers at the heart of what we do.

Whatever your background, and whatever your goals, we'll help you take the next step towards a better future.

What’s in it for you?

Skipton values work/life balance and we are proud to support hybrid and flexible working, where possible. We have a newly refurbished head office which offers a vibrant and collaborative working space.

We have a range of other benefits available to you including;

• Annual discretionary bonus scheme

• 25 days standard annual leave + bank holidays + rising 1 day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days

• Holiday trading scheme allowing the ability to buy and sell additional annual leave days

• Matching employer pension contribution (up to 10% per annum)

• Colleague mortgage (conditions apply)

• Salary sacrifice scheme for hybrid & electric car

• A commitment to training and development

• Private medical insurance for all our colleagues

• 3 paid volunteering days per annum

• Diverse and inclusive colleague networks available for you to join including our Carers and Pride Alliance groups

• We care about your health and wellbeing – we provide a range of benefits that support this including cycle to work initiative and discounted gym membership

What will you be doing?

As our Head of Group Financial Reporting and Planning you’ll be responsible for the preparation of Group reporting and consolidation of Group forecasts and the 5-year Corporate Plan through the leadership of the Group Financial Reporting and Planning team. You’ll lead and improve the financial management, reporting and control environment of the Group.

Key accountabilities include:

• Interpreting relevant accounting standards and their application to our subsidiaries, serving as the primary contact for all financial audits and ensuring timely completion by the Finance teams.

• Uplift the controls over financial reporting across the Group to meet the requirements of the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code.

• Overseeing and preparation of accurate and timely reporting to include month end process, production of Group Annual and Interim Financial Statements and support the production of Group Corporate Plan and Quarterly Forecast Financials

• Support the Director of Group Finance in maintaining appropriate financial control oversight across the Group’s finance functions

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement within finance, through review of monthly performance analytics, interrogating variances and results, and ensuring best practices are celebrated and shared throughout the Group.

What do we need from you?

To be successful in this role you’ll need:

• Significant experience of operating in a similar level role, ideally with direct experience of delivering periodic financial and management reporting for a bank or building society or post qual experience in an audit firm

• Proven transformation experience with a process reengineering mindset

• Strong ability to interpret accounting and regulatory requirements, identify linkages between different requirements and establish the impact on the Group.

• Professional accountancy qualification ideally ACA/ACCA

• An ability to develop, document and embed accounting reporting and control frameworks.

• Strong technical knowledge and the gravitas to influence key stakeholders and deliver on Group financial reporting commitments, with the ability to interpret and concisely explain technical information to non-technical audiences.

• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, providing technical guidance, support and challenge and fostering an inclusive and dynamic team culture.